Transcript Highlights:

• “It was asked, why would we allow families and students to use their dollars for college?
• I would ask, why are we confiscating funds from these students?
• The average per-pupil funding for a typical universal ESA student or a typical military student, for
• The students in public schools are tested constantly, as are the schools.
• So I support the program for special education for students with disabilities.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Appropriations, Transportation and Technology heard HCR 2048, as amended by a strike-everything amendment. The amendment would constitutionally prohibit the state from confiscating scholarship account monies from children of military families who are eligible for education scholarship accounts (ESAs) and can use the funds for tuition and fees at eligible postsecondary institutions. It also would make any later bill or voter-approved measure that violates that prohibition void in its entirety, with no severability, for measures enacted or approved on or after November 1, 2026. Representative Way, the sponsor, said the measure was intended to protect military families from having education funds taken away and argued that military children face unique disruptions because of deployments and frequent moves. Supporters including Matt Beinberg of the Goldwater Institute, Kevin Beasty of the Arizona Christian Education Coalition, Peter Gentala of the Center for Arizona Policy, and Senator Rogers said the amendment was needed to safeguard military families and preserve their ability to use ESA funds flexibly, including for college savings. Opponents, including Senators Alston, Fernandez, Kuby, and Epstein, argued the proposal was unnecessary, overly broad, and an attempt to preempt or invalidate a pending ESA-related citizen initiative. They also raised concerns about ESA accountability, public school funding, and constitutional issues involving voter initiatives and judicial review. After debate, the committee adopted the strike-everything amendment and then voted on HCR 2048 as amended. The final committee vote was 6 ayes, 4 noes, and 1 not voting, giving the measure a do-pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• It would prohibit a student from participating in interscholastic activity or programs.
• Students deserve second chances, and oftentimes it is interscholastic activities or clubs in a school
• And I think this bill would rob them of that, and I don't think it would make students better or our
• We work for the state of Arizona, and our job is to provide those students in the state of Arizona a
• Arizona is currently 49th or 50th out of the 50 states in funding per student.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the prior journal, and recognized several guests, including the Doctor of the Day, representatives from the Arizona LEND Program, Friends of the Salt River Wild Horses, and other visitors. The chamber then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider bills on two calendars. On the first calendar, SB 1280 drew the most discussion and a failed floor amendment by Representative Gutierrez related to Mexican gray wolves; members debated wildlife recovery, federal conservation efforts, ranching impacts, and state funding restrictions before the amendment was defeated and the bill received a due pass recommendation. The committee also recommended due pass for SB 1418 and SB 1785, while SB 1200 was retained on the calendar. On the second calendar, members debated SB 1053 on concealed carry permit fees, SB 1259, SB 1372 on health care provider recruitment and anesthesia access, SB 1475 on student participation in interscholastic activities after certain criminal offenses, and SB 1478 with a technical floor amendment changing its effective date. SB 1053, SB 1259, SB 1372 as amended, SB 1475, and SB 1478 as amended all received due pass recommendations. The House adopted the Committee of the Whole report, placing SB 1372 and SB 1478 on engrossing and SB 1053, SB 1259, and SB 1475 on third reading. The House then took up third-reading votes on several bills. SB 1078, SB 1107, SB 1123, and SB 1142 were passed by recorded vote, with SB 1142 prompting extended debate over a federal education tax credit and whether it would divert resources from public schools; supporters argued it would not affect state revenues and would help Arizona families, while opponents said it favored wealthier households and undermined public education. The session ended with personal announcements and adjournment until the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• c> CTSOs, students gain leadership, CTSOs, students gain leadership, experience,<00:04:03.840> professional
• The students participate in knowledge.
• dental students as well. So, welcome. dental students as well. So, welcome.
• , Maryland representing the students, Maryland representing the students, faculty,<00:09:08.959><
• , managerial group employees and students, managerial group employees and students, all<00:09:39.120

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Maryland Senate met on Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2026, with a quorum present. The session opened with an invocation by Chaplain David Stadler, followed by journalization of his remarks and several introductions recognizing guests in the chamber, including dentists, an intern, a former legislative staffer, and representatives from the University System of Maryland and other groups. Senators also noted upcoming committee meetings and a Legislative Black Caucus photo the next day. The main floor action centered on a resolution honoring Maryland Career and Technical Student Organizations for Career and Technical Student Organization Week. The sponsor described the role of CTSOs in serving more than 12,000 students statewide and in building leadership, professional, and career skills. The resolution was read in full and adopted unanimously, with the Senate expressing congratulations and appreciation for the organizations’ work with young people. The Senate then took up layover items and calendar bills. Senate Bill 56, concerning Maryland Longitudinal Data Center external data sharing for multi-state reporting, was special ordered for one day after members raised privacy-related questions. Senate Bill 99, the Open Meetings Act/Local Board of Education Transparency Act measure, was also special ordered for one day after discussion of its committee amendment. The chamber also received administrative corrections from the Governor and referred them to the Executive Nominations Committee, and the majority leader later moved adjournment until February 19 at 10:00 a.m., which was adopted without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:48.519> athletes<00:09:49.160> are<00:09:49.480> students remember student
• athletes are students remember student athletes are students first<00:09:50.959> and<00:09:51.120
• The evidence across the country is clear: the more students you allow to play, the more students will
• you allow to play the more students you allow to play the more students<00:31:56.880> will<00
• <00:36:45.079> to sports are safe for all students to sports are safe for all students to

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• or private schools, including vision screening information reporting for public school students and
• But that acknowledgment does not mean the student is bilingual and biliterate.
• It simply means the student has taken certain language courses. Other than English classes.
• Under this bill, students will retain their First Amendment rights to qualify.
• Physically harm a student or damage property. 2. Create an abusive educational environment, or 3.

Bills: HB178, HB1551, HB1939, HB2040, HB2354, HB2674, HB3029, HB3460, HB3631, HB3662, HB5201, HB5381, HB178

Keywords: Texas education, public schools, curriculum, social studies, high school graduation requirements, State Board of Education, Education Code, ethnic studies, world history, world geography, U.S. history, government, economics, personal financial literacy, free enterprise, religious literature, Hebrew Scriptures, Old Testament, New Testament, ninth grade

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:13:36.040> And lives of thousands of students. And lives of thousands of students.
• So, I I all students are bilingual.
• We have students in our school system who are among the poorest students in the state of Alabama.
• I'm not opposed to student recognition. I'm not opposed to student recognition.
• All the students stand up from Samford. Everybody, students from Samford, y'all stand up for us.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We had students detained, at least four of our students were initially reported as detained by ICE agents
• At least 30 parents of students at Valleyview Elementary were detained, leading to students being left
• At least 30 parents of students at Valleyview Elementary were detained, leading to students being left
• At least 30 parents of students at Valleyview Elementary were detained, leading to students being left
• student, staff, or family member. student, staff, or family member.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First, I'll start off with students and faculty members and administration from my alma mater, a high
• today first I'll start off from students today first I'll start off from students andc<00:02:29.879
• Ethan serves as student representative of the Hawaii State Board of Education, and he also serves as
• Kaiser's student body president.
• innovative ideas Ethan serves as student innovative ideas Ethan serves as student representative

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What kind of communication are you having with those students?
• What outreach do you do to the students at that school?
• “What outreach are you doing to the students?”
• How do we communicate to the students?
• But most of my students at the time are monolingual; they are Chinese, Thai, all kinds of students, because

Summary: The joint sunset oversight hearing reviewed five regulatory entities: the Board of Behavioral Sciences, the Board of Psychology, the Physician Assistant Board, the Podiatric Medical Board, and the California Massage Therapy Council. Across the hearing, each entity described recent accomplishments, licensing and enforcement workload, workforce shortages, and efforts to modernize processes. Common themes included streamlining licensure, expanding access to care, addressing telehealth or emerging technology, and balancing consumer protection with workforce needs. For the Board of Behavioral Sciences, members discussed workforce shortages in mental health, supervision barriers, telehealth confidentiality, AI in therapy, interstate compacts, school-based services, and military spouse licensure. The board said it has expanded outreach, improved licensing processes, and created temporary practice authority tracking, while also expressing concern about counseling compacts and emphasizing California-specific law, ethics, and cultural competency. Public commenters supported the board’s work and the possible move to a national MFT exam, while also urging more resources. The Board of Psychology highlighted fee adjustments, streamlined licensure pathways, enforcement process improvements, new CPD requirements, and proposed changes including a psychotherapist-client privilege exception for investigations. Committee members and public witnesses focused heavily on that privilege proposal, with some members opposing it as too broad and privacy-invasive, while the board argued it is needed to obtain records in bias and sexual misconduct cases. The board also discussed workforce shortages, processing improvements, and the use of inactive status for psychological associates. The Physician Assistant Board reported growth in the PA workforce and education programs, SB 697 implementation, and financial pressure from rising enforcement costs. The main policy debate centered on physician-to-PA ratios and practice agreements, with board representatives and many public commenters arguing that current restrictions limit access to care, especially in rural areas, while the California Medical Association defended the need for explicit ratios and agreements. The board also discussed AI, fee increases, and tracking temporary practice authority. The Podiatric Medical Board described licensing and renewal reforms, residency expansion, enforcement support, and budget constraints, while public testimony raised concerns about a proposed fee increase and about reimbursement parity and practice recognition for podiatrists. Finally, the California Massage Therapy Council defended the certification model over licensure, citing lower costs, local government collaboration, anti-trafficking work, and its role in vetting applications and disciplining bad actors; no formal votes or final actions were taken during this portion of the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• mandated to reveal um to students mandated to reveal um to students families<00:06:36.319> are
• 11 relative to biological sex in student 11 relative to biological sex in student athletes<00:10
• If you have a complaint, people are going to know who the student is.
• <02:06:00.440> so<02:06:00.760> there's<02:06:01.000> student nurses or students
• so there's student nurses or students so there's student with<02:06:01.400> an<02:06:01.559><

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• with our Career and Technical student with our Career and Technical student organizations<00:19:
• $250 and that is with our student $250 and that is with our student organizations<00:20:43.200><
• issues um that a lot of these students issues um that a lot of these students that<00:21:46.080>
• for individual student for individual student expenditures<00:22:31.120> so<00:22:31.679>
• <00:47:27.720> and students students and our families and students students and our families

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <02:01:54.560> uh<02:01:54.800> student process rights for students uh student process
• conduct, student academics, student organization, a student organization that's not an organization
• <02:46:32.880> conduct,<02:46:33.520> student whether they student conduct, student
• whether they student conduct, student academics,<02:46:34.640> student<02:46:34.960> organization
• , academics, student organization, academics, student organization, a<02:46:37.040> student

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It opens new horizons for our students. It promotes a well-rounded education.
• It keeps students engaged with increased attendance rates.
• We see these students at concerts, at all-state festivals, and in our homes.
• Was it my students and Walt Whitman? It was not. Thank you, Dr. Ms.
• I just think about those 20 students who are just saying for us.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The meeting began with a student performance from Horizon Middle School Show Choir, including songs from an eighth grade concert and the show choir piece “The Body Electric.” After the performance, Deputy Superintendent Donna Fishbeck spoke on behalf of State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler in support of music education, emphasizing its benefits for creativity, collaboration, school climate, and student development, and noting the department’s support for music grants and professional development. She also highlighted the North Dakota Music Educators Association’s role in expanding access and quality in music education. The committee then heard a presentation from Vital Network, introduced as a DPI-funded effort focused on teacher retention. Nate Eklund and Dr. Aaron Rob described the organization’s work with schools and districts to reduce educator burnout by improving workplace conditions, especially around time management, voice in decision-making, and care/support. They said the program uses surveys, dashboards, advisory support, and facilitated school and district processes to identify local friction points and help educators and leaders solve them, with examples ranging from simplifying material requests to improving PLC time and communication. They stressed that retention is driven more by workplace conditions than pay alone, and that solutions must be local rather than one-size-fits-all. Members asked about rural teacher overload, sustainability after grant funding ends, and whether the model could inform broader policy or continuing education reforms. Vital representatives said the work is designed to be embedded in district systems and strategic plans so it can continue beyond their direct involvement, and that the approach aligns with the state’s teacher retention and recruitment task force recommendations. They reported serving about half of North Dakota educators across roughly 50 districts, with partnerships through regional education associations to reach rural areas. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:05:16.000> are One to look at an age which students are One to look at an age which students
• <00:05:24.479> There's our K through three students.
• There's our K through three students.
• It invests in our students and school districts for the next two years.
• It invests in our students and school districts for the next two years.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• wants<00:47:28.319> to if a student student a parent wants to if a student student a parent
• here. student to a private school and I student to a private school and I believe<00:56:15.079> in
• superintendent and say I want my student superintendent and say I want my student to<00:56:25.000
• hardship and a detriment to the student hardship and a detriment to the student here<00:59:15.760
• make a specific request that the student make a specific request that the student be<01:00:38.880

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of students coming through our program.
• Let me tell you the reason that's important: a lot of the students enrolling are not full-time students
• ; they are part-time students.
• So for example, we have several scholarships that are now geared for students—students that want to pursue
• So we are actually, for those students.

Transcript Highlights:

• These students are from Curtin Intermediate School.
• the world's most talented student teams.
• We have here today Drexel University student Jaden Nice, along with a student from the University of
• The chair recognizes. here today, Drexel University student, Jaden Nice, along with student of the University
• These students are in the 6th through the 12th grade.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, guest recognitions, and a quorum call before moving into committee reports and floor action. Committees reported a number of bills and resolutions, including measures from Local Government, Energy, Health, Judiciary, Appropriations, Rules, and Finance. The chamber also announced caucus and committee meetings, then recessed and later reconvened for final consideration of legislation. Several bills passed the House finally, including House Bill 2299 on body cameras for county probation officers, House Bill 167 designating a scenic byway along Allegheny River Boulevard, House Bill 95 requiring disclosure when content or advertising is generated or substantially modified by artificial intelligence, House Bill 1944 expanding medical amnesty and Good Samaritan protections on campuses, House Bill 2443 creating a child victim recovery fund, House Bill 246 updating references from the Public Welfare Code to the Human Services Code, and House Bill 2586 establishing title protection for music therapists. The House also adopted House Resolution 463 recognizing Korean-American Citizenship Day, House Resolution 499 recognizing Juneteenth Independence Day, and House Resolution 547 directing a study of electronic monitoring as an alternative to incarceration. The House spent significant time on amendments to House Bill 133, which concerns reinstatement of parental rights, and House Bill 138, which addresses parental incarceration and termination of parental rights. Both bills received bipartisan amendments adding guardrails and exceptions, and the amendments were adopted unanimously. The chamber also debated House Bill 2224, the Fair Act, with multiple amendments on utility rates, return on equity, and scope; some amendments were adopted, several tied votes failed, and the bill was left amended for reprinting. House Bill 2544, dealing with school administrators’ rights and negotiations, saw an amendment to allow individual bargaining, but that amendment failed and the bill was agreed to. The session ended with a correction to the record on House Bill 1944, a motion to recommit several bills to Appropriations, and adjournment until June 22, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is CS for SB 1070 electrocardiograms for student athletes.
• So the 2028-2029 school year is for every student to...
• How many students in high school do participate in athletics?
• And in what conditions a student can return. It's so complex.
• Statsal 1 and 300, 1 in 300 students have potentially fatal... 1 in 300 students have potentially fatal

Summary: The Health Policy Committee heard and advanced several health-related bills. SB 1546 on background screening for athletic coaches was explained as another extension of the deadline for coaches to be added to the background screening clearinghouse; it passed favorably with support from athletic and youth sports organizations. SB 958 on type 1 diabetes early detection was amended to match the House version, requiring the Department of Health to provide school districts, school boards, and charter schools with informational materials for parents; it was reported favorably as a committee substitute. CS/SB 1070 on electrocardiograms for student athletes drew extensive discussion about sudden cardiac arrest prevention, implementation timelines, costs, funding through private and public sources, and whether insurance, KidCare, or Medicaid should cover screenings; after supportive testimony from school and athletic groups, it was reported favorably as a committee substitute. The committee also heard SB 1060, which would create a joint legislative oversight committee for Medicaid managed care to review encounter data, financials, audits, and rebate calculations with assistance from an actuary and the Auditor General. The sponsor and several senators framed it as a transparency and verification measure in response to large mid-year Medicaid funding increases and concerns about network adequacy and vertical integration; it passed favorably. CS/SB 944, which shortens the insurer overpayment recovery look-back period for claims involving psychologists from 30 months to 12 months, also passed favorably with support from the Florida Psychological Association. SB 1370, moving ambulatory surgical centers into their own statute rather than under hospital licensure provisions, was supported by surgery center representatives and reported favorably. The committee approved SB 768, as amended, to narrow the foreign-country-of-concern licensure attestation for health care entities to direct controlling interests and clarify the “reasonable efforts” standard; it passed after questions about how the standard would work in practice. SB 1544 on opticianry prompted significant debate over whether the bill would limit nonlicensed staff in ophthalmology and optometry settings; after a proposed amendment was withdrawn and multiple witnesses spoke both for and against, the bill was temporarily postponed. Finally, the committee adopted a strike-all amendment to SB 1808 requiring health care practitioners and facilities to refund patient overpayments within 30 days, with enforcement through AHCA fines or professional discipline, and then reported the bill favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, for example, they'll look at the student, and if the student has taken several AP courses, they can
• Trying to help those students.
• My amendment could help increase reporting rates among college students by empowering students with the
• So education for a lot of these students under current law is on the back of the student ID cards.
• Student organizations can include intramural sports, religious and spiritual organizations, student government

Bills: SB15, SB35, SB290, SB1365, SB2568, SB18, SB427, SB1860, SB1864, SB2675, SB596, SB2858, SB3058, SB816, SB1163, SB1484, SB1898, SB1777, SB1802, SB2692, SB315, SB1585, SB1626, SB2058, SB2050, SB2105, SB2245, SB2764, SB2611, SB2497, SB2452, SB2243, SB1705, SB1244, SB1361, SB438, SB578, SB584, SB2690, SB2521, SB2487, SB2342, SB2063, SB125, SB2041, SB1962, SB1413, SB6, SB2878, SB13, SB30, SJR87, SB7, SB127, SB293, SB441, SB3059, SB57, SB512, SB1718, SB140, SB2055, SB2075, SB2018, SB1534, SB1567, SB785, SB1233, SB1580, SB1663, SB413, SB447, SB519, SB467, SB1579, SB1191, SB1021, SB1838, SB2807, SB2835, SB546, SB2121, SB2167, SB2024, SB1032, SB1049, SB1266, SB1400, SB1302, SB401, SB1596, SB1281, SB1242, SB1343, SB1346, SB2753, SB2221, SB1719, SB2177, SB552, SB646, SJR1, SB15, SB800, SB790, SB748, SB571, SB1957, SB1923, SB1896, SB1760, SB1335, SB2368, SB2477, SB2587, SB2972, SB2986, SB2965, SB1563, SB1467, SB1164, SB1137, SB614, SB705, SB961, SB918, SB955, SB869, SB850, SB863, SB1610, SB1055, SB2206, SB457, SB2337, SB1362, SB926, SB1494, SB251, SB456, SB500, SB1307, SB2615, SB2995, SB2321, SB973, SB974, SB865, SB506, SB781, SB1522, SB1558, SB510, SB667, SB763, SB2073, SB1858, SB1660, SB505, SB2900, SB1433, SB1540, SB1964, SB1300, SB1644, SB2217, SB2373, SB2431, SB1758, SB2480, SB3039, SB3047, SB3073, SB2920, SB2781, SB826, SB766, SB2460, SB527, SB1946, SB2885, SB1243, SB2610, SB2595, SB857, SB2501, SB66, SB268, SB331, SB618, SB414, SB1394, SB2425, SB898, SB993, SB442, SB735, SB784, SB2538, SB1919, SB1013, SB2215, SB2322, SB626, SB570, SB747, SB2183, SB673, SB1015, SB1447, SB1370, SB1784, SB1897, SB2873, SB2891, SB2933, SB2540, SB2681, SB2695, SB1965, SB2203, SB872, SB875, SB1030, SB1277, SB1730, SB1681, SB1152, SB2969, SB2747, SB2705, SB2541, SB1708, SB2080, SB2721, SB1986, SB2392, SB2539, SB2857, SB2799, SB2785, SB2782, SB1531, SB1927, SB1263, SB1098, SB35, SB290, SB1365, SB2568, SB18, SB427, SB1860, SB1864, SB2675, SB596, SB2858, SB3058, SB816, SB1163, SB1484, SB1898, SB1777, SB1802, SB2692, SB315, SB1585, SB1626, SB2058, SB2050, SB2105, SB2245, SB2764, SB2611, SB2497, SB2452, SB2243, SB1705, SB1244, SB1361, SB438, SB578, SB584, SB2690, SB2521, SB2487, SB2342, SB2063, SB125, SB2041, SB1962, SB1413, SCR9, SB21, SB1198, SB1405, SB2601, SB2778, HB5560, HB762, HB1584, HB 107, HB 114, HB138, HB4386, HB2495, HB581, HB3348, HB5323, HB4341, HB6, HB171, HB143, HB449, HB3486, HB4263, HB5246, HB2, HB2011, SB17

Keywords: SB 15, Texas Local Government Code, zoning preemption, housing affordability, small lots, lot size, lot density, single-family zoning, residential subdivision, municipal land use, local control, state preemption, parking requirements, setbacks, infill development, missing middle housing, lot width, lot depth, homebuilders, housing supply

Transcript Highlights:

• It could be student-initiated.
• So it could be student-led, but it could be faculty-led, a teacher, or a principal.
• students, another for Muslim students, and another for Jewish students.
• One, there was no student involvement.
• Students who opt out often face peer pressure, ridicule, or worse.

Bills: SB6, SB11, SB33

Keywords: electric power, interconnection, utilities, ERCOT, large load customers, water supply, sewer service, demand management, school prayer, Bible reading, religious text, public schools, Texas Education Code, student prayer, silent prayer, meditation, religious liberty, First Amendment, Establishment Clause, church and state